The next time you’re craving finger food, make these vegan onion rings. They’re baked and require no oil, so they’re slightly healthier than traditional onion rings.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying “regular” onion rings every now and then. The only catch? Most versions are not vegan-friendly, as they often call for milk and/or eggs in the batter. Traditional onion rings can also be extremely greasy, which you might not enjoy.
Fortunately, it’s possible to make oil-free, vegan crispy baked onion rings that will satisfy your craving for savory side dishes. For a complete meal, serve your homemade onion rings with a vegan burger and a generous helping of vegan BBQ sauce.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
- Onions. Naturally, you can’t make onion rings without onions! Traditional options include white or yellow onions, but you can use red onions if you’d like.
- Flour. For this recipe, we used all-purpose flour. Feel free to use gluten-free all-purpose flour, if needed.
- Plant milk. Be sure to use plain, unsweetened plant milk. We used oat milk.
- Plain breadcrumbs. This is essential for a crispy exterior. Both store-bought and homemade breadcrumbs work great.
How to Make Vegan Crispy Baked Onion Rings
This recipe for vegan crispy baked onion rings is easy to make and customize. For example, you can add additional spices, like dried herbs, to the breadcrumb mixture. Read on for the full step-by-step tutorial, plus tips for making it your own:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Cut off the ends of each onion, and remove the peel. Cut into 1/4-inch thick slices.
2. Separate the rings of each slice. For thinner rings, you can keep two of them together.
3. In a bowl, combine the flour, milk, and spices. Whisk well. Meanwhile, prepare the breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl.
4. Using tongs or clean fingers, dip each onion ring into the batter. Make sure each side is completely coated.
5. Let the excess batter drip off. Place the onion ring in the bowl of breadcrumbs, coating both sides.
6. Arrange the coated onion rings on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining onion rings, including the smaller pieces.
7. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway, or until golden brown. Let cool slightly and enjoy with your favorite dip.
Recipe Tips, Variations, and Substitutions
- Avoid cutting the onions too thick. Make sure the onion slices are about 1/4-inch thick. Otherwise, they might still be raw after the listed baking time.
- Soak the onions in ice water. If you want to tone down the pungent flavor of the onions, try soaking the rings in ice water for 15 minutes, then pat them dry before coating them in batter. It’s said that this will make the onions taste sweet and mild.
- Use homemade bread crumbs. To ensure your homemade onion rings are vegan, consider using your favorite vegan bread and making breadcrumbs yourself.
- Add herbs to your breadcrumbs. For even more flavor, add dried herbs and spices to the breadcrumbs. You can also use seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Bake the smaller pieces separately. The smaller onion rings may need less time to cook. To ensure they cook evenly, consider using separate baking sheets for the small and large onion rings. Keep a close watch on the smaller rings as it nears the 20-minute mark.
How to Store Leftovers
These homemade vegan crispy baked onion rings taste best freshly made. If you must save leftovers, store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The breadcrumbs will get soggy over time, so enjoy them as soon as possible. You can reheat them in the oven or toaster oven.
Serving Suggestions
- Homemade vegan ketchup. A classic partner for crispy onion rings.
- Vegan BBQ sauce. Switch things up with homemade BBQ sauce.
- Vegan black bean burgers. Serve onion rings as a side dish.
Vegan Crispy Baked Onion Rings
Ingredients
- 2 white onion use 2 large or 3 medium white or yellow onions.
- ⅔ cup oat milk or other plain, unsweetened plant milk
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Cut off the ends of each onion, and remove the peel. Cut into 1/4-inch thick slices, separating the rings of each slice. For thinner rings, you can keep two of them together.
- In a bowl, combine the flour, milk, and spices. Whisk well. Meanwhile, prepare the breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl.
- Using tongs or clean fingers, dip each onion ring into the batter, making sure each side is completely coated and letting the excess drip off. Place the onion ring in the bowl of breadcrumbs, coating both sides, and arrange on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway, or until golden brown. Let cool slightly and enjoy with your favorite dip.
Notes
- Make sure the onion slices are about 1/4-inch thick. Otherwise, they might still be raw after the listed baking time.
- For even more flavor, add dried herbs and spices to the breadcrumbs. You can also use seasoned breadcrumbs.
- The smaller onion rings may need less time to cook. To ensure they cook evenly, consider using separate baking sheets for the small and large onion rings. Check on the smaller rings as it nears the 20-minute mark.
- These oil-free onion rings are best enjoyed fresh. If you must store leftovers, keep them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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Nutrition
About the Author
Kirsten Nunez is a journalist who focuses on healthy food and cooking. Her vegan and plant-based recipes have appeared on VegNews, eHow, Shape, and more. When she’s not creating and photographing vegan recipes for Clean Green Simple, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen and sharing plant-based meals with friends and family. More articles by Kirsten.
